Gravel Ride of the Week: Little Switzerland
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Who says that you need to go to Europe to see gorgeous Swiss views?! Sometimes the most amazing scenery can be found within a few hours of driving. And that's exactly what this week's Gravel Ride of the Week is all about. We headed back to Stokesville for the second event in their gravel series and were absolutely blown away by the natural beauty that was found along this route. Unlike event number one, the Stokesville Strade, that followed a route through the valley, this time around the race headed into the mountains leading through the George Washington National Forest to a very picturesque place that carries the nickname of Little Switzerland. This is surely a ride that you’ll want to check out for yourself!
Ride Breakdown
The start of the race was once again staged as one long, drawn-out precession and with race number 93, I was basically right at the back of the start grid. Fortunately, the pace was much more controlled down the steep campground exit road this time around. Thanks to a long neutral zone roll-out, I could easily make my way to the front of the group. This was most certainly a very welcomed difference to the Stokesville Strade event, where I never made it to the front of the bunch, due to the frantic pace.
There might not have been an outrageously fast start to this race, but the challenge would lie in all the climbing that awaited on the day. The climbs began as soon as we hit the George Washington National Forest (~1 mile into the ride) and didn’t let up throughout the day! There were only a handful of short, sharp descents along the first part of the course that ran through the forest. But otherwise it was a lengthy 15 miles (25 km) of steady uphill climbing. In total, this ride contained roughly 6950 ft (2120m) of elevation gain and covered a distance of 63 miles (102km) - ouch!
I felt very proud of my performance on the extended hill climb, and I nearly made it all the way to the top with the front group. However, just before we reached the summit, the lactate in my legs served as a reminder that there were still plenty of miles to be covered and I decided to back it down to a more manageable pace. In some way, I was actually very glad to be out of the group at this point. The tempo and risk-taking started to heat up in front and there was even a small crash near the back of the group when the road suddenly narrowed. I could so easily have been tied up in the mix, had I still been in my original position with the bunch.
What goes up, must come down. Following the extended climb through the forest, riders were faced with a seriously fast downhill. I was more than happy to have a clear shot in front of me along this very technical section that required full concentration. My background as a road cyclist definitely showed throughout this event, since any technical terrain quickly distanced me from other riders. Be sure to watch the highlights video to see how some dare-devil descenders made it look like I was standing still on this extreme downhill. Gravel riding is truly a unique sport that draws not only on your endurance capacity, but also on your bike handling skills - the latter being something that I need to sharpen up.
The highlight of this event came once we had passed through the lowest gap of the Shenandoah Mountain and the route turned up into highland country, known as "Little Switzerland." Throughout this part of the course, riders were welcomed by sensational views of the sky, the pastures and the surrounding mountains. It was easy to see how this place earned its nickname. The loop that we followed contained tons of incredible gravel and quiet country roads that meander through farmlands and cow pastures. Towards the end of the loop, a short and steep downhill along Hiner Mill Road placed us beside a creek that the BikeReg event notes described as "magical." I can confirm that they were right with that description!
Following the amazing scenery throughout this loop, it was time to head back along the same route from which we came. The downside of retracing one’s steps along a bike route is that any fast-paced downhills turn into massive uphills on the way back. Climbing back to the top of the mountain was probably the biggest challenge of the day, but the biggest reward of the day quickly followed - a long downhill stretch through the George Washington National Forest. Mile after mile, this downhill continued. With it came a true appreciation for the incredible scenery around me. The time out there surrounded by beautiful scenery offered the opportunity for deep thoughts. It was in those moments that I realized why the saying goes, that, "gravel means different things to different people." Cruising along that road was far more rewarding than any prize that I could win on the day.
The short and sharp descents that we encountered at the beginning of the race turned into very tough ascents on the way back. Soon, however, I would be back in the home straight as I headed over the famous Stokesville steel bridge on the way to the finish-line. The steep climb into the campground even felt easy after all of the other challenging climbs that we ascended on the day.
Wrap-Up
What an epic ride! It’s easy to get drawn into the competitive nature of racing, where all you see is the wheel in front of you. But when it comes to gravel, I'd most surely recommend sitting up from time to time to see the world around you. While zipping along in a fast-moving bunch comes with its own form of enjoyment, there is something to be said about being by oneself on an incredible stretch of road through a national forest. What made this ride so special was that I got a bit of both. Striking a balance, now that's what we like to stand for here at Mountain Road!
- Wiehan
